Columbia, S.C.Governor Henry McMaster has directed the state’s Department of Health and Human Services (SCDHHS) to implement additional job requirements for Medicaid recipients in order to keep their coverage. Once President-elect Donald Trump assumes office, the department has been directed to draft a formal request to fulfill the directive.
Revisiting Work Mandates
South Carolina was authorized to implement Medicaid work requirements under the first Trump administration, but the COVID-19 epidemic prevented the program from ever going into action. States were later prohibited from enforcing similar regulations by the Biden administration.
McMaster contends that the program, which targets able-bodied, non-disabled persons between the ages of 19 and 64, is required to guarantee justice and accountability. In order to keep their Medicaid benefits, about 200,000 South Carolinians would have to work at least 80 hours a month, take part in job training, go to school, or volunteer.
Exemptions and Concerns
Some people were excused from these obligations under a previously authorized waiver, including:
- Supplemental Security Income (SSI) or Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) recipients;
- Primary caregivers of children or disabled adults;
- Medically frail individuals;
- Pregnant individuals or those within 365 days postpartum;
- Those residing in areas with unemployment rates of 8% or higher.
Additionally, members of federally recognized tribes and individuals enrolled in Medicaid-covered substance addiction treatment programs would be exempt under the proposed regulation. The governor’s office says that other exemptions for the latest request are still being considered.
The SC Appleseed Legal Justice Center’s policy director, Sue Berkowitz, is among the critics who warn that these rules may place an excessive burden on Medicaid participants.
Berkowitz also voiced worries about administrative obstacles or practical difficulties that would cause some beneficiaries to lose their coverage.
Balancing Accountability and Support
Proponents contend that the strategy lessens dependency on government aid and promotes individual responsibility. Critics caution that it runs the risk of penalizing those who are most vulnerable and have systemic difficulties finding work.
In order to strike a balance between accountability and assistance for low-income citizens, South Carolina will review the exemptions and take comments into account when it completes its proposal. The state will be among the few to implement Medicaid work restrictions in recent years if it is approved.
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